SUSPECT ADMITS ROLE IN KILLINGS, POLICE SAY

Vaughn Walker first acknowledged his involvement in the killings of a local couple while he was being questioned about another break-in, according to police documents.

Walker told police that he and an accomplice, identified only as "the man," were walking through the Hartford Golf Club on Halloween night when they saw a house on Mohawk Drive that they wanted to enter.

Walker, 19, of 267 Capen St., Hartford, has been charged with two counts of felony murder in connection with the slaying of John and Patricia Haugh of 50 Mohawk Drive. Roger Jones, 19, of 179 Palm St., Hartford, whom Walker described to police as his "best friend," also was charged with two counts of felony murder. They also face a string of burglary and larceny charges stemming from three other break-ins in the Haughs' neighborhood.

Both men were arraigned Tuesday in Superior Court in Hartford. Probable cause hearings have been scheduled for Dec. 20.

The arrest and search warrants outlining the murder charges against Walker and Jones have been sealed. But Walker described his involvement in the slayings when police questioned him about another burglary at 34 Mohawk Drive the night before the killings, according to an arrest affidavit.

Walker and "the man" were walking through the Haughs' neighborhood at about midnight on Oct. 31. Walker told police that he estimated the time by eyeing the moon's position in the night sky. Cars were coming down the street, so the two men chose to walk in residents' back yards, the arrest affidavit said.

After spying the dignified colonial-style home of Dr. John and Patricia Haugh, Walker and his partner "looked at it and looked around more," Det. Brian Enns wrote in an application for an arrest warrant.

The two also looked at other houses on the street, Walker told police, but settled on 50 Mohawk Drive. He then gave police an account of his involvement in the killings.

Detectives had suspected that Jones and Walker were responsible for other break-ins in the neighborhood. They found Walker's fingerprints in a Norwood Road house that was burglarized on Oct. 6. The owner of that house recognized Jones as the son of her part-time housekeeper.

Walker and Jones were arrested in connection with the slayings on Nov. 9. Last week, police arrested Vaughn Walker's aunt, Marie Walker. She was charged with tampering with evidence.

In another development, WFSB- TV reported that West Hartford police are investigating whether Hartford Deputy Police Chief James O. Berry interfered with their criminal investigation. Berry said he received a call from Marie Walker after detectives from Hartford and West Hartford arrived to search her Capen Street home. Identifying herself as a member of the local block watch, she said she did not see a search warrant and was concerned.

"I did tell her we had her nephew in custody and that he'll make a phone call when he's able to," Berry said. Marie Walker wanted to know details of the investigation but Berry said he could not discuss the case.

Berry said he did nothing to hamper the investigation. "What would motivate me to do something so stupid?" he asked.

West Hartford police are scheduled to talk with Berry today. But they also said he did not hurt their efforts.

"Nobody here is making any allegations against the deputy chief," said Det. Sgt. Jack Bannan of the West Hartford police. "If we had evidence to believe that he had tampered with evidence or hindered the investigation, we would have an arrest warrant."

Hartford Police Chief Joseph Croughwell said he stands behind Berry. "The information I have right now no way indicates that Chief Berry did anything to compromise the investigation," Croughwell said. "I have the ultimate confidence in him."